Silas walked into the captain's cabin, scooped up the sleeping Luna from the chair, and sat down holding her.
"Walter," he said after a moment of thought while stroking the cat.
"Do a thorough inventory of today's haul, convert it to cash, then distribute it according to the rules.
Come to me for however much cash is needed. Make it quick and fair."
He had plundered the treasuries of two island governors, and the cash he'd gained was more than enough to reward the crew.
"Yes, sir!" Walter immediately agreed.
"As for you all..." Silas raised his head, his gaze sweeping over these Beyonder crew members, and smiled.
"The standards will be higher for you. In addition to that share, there will be an extra bonus."
He first looked at his first mate, Anderson.
"The first mate has earned the most merit this time. What kind of reward do you want? Money, Beyonder items, or something else?"
This former strongest hunter of the Fog Sea had faithfully carried out his arrangements on Blue Mountain Island, throwing the entire island into chaos.
Not only had he successfully destroyed the shore defenses, but he'd also plundered a large quantity of naval supplies.
"Captain," Anderson hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Can I accumulate this merit for now?"
He's probably planning to save up more merit to exchange with me for the Sequence 4 potion formula of the Hunter pathway.
But he can't directly ask if I'm willing to give it, so he's using this method to test the waters indirectly...
Silas guessed his thoughts and immediately nodded. "You can."
"Alright then, I'll save it for now and won't take a reward yet."
Hearing his answer, Anderson's face quickly broke into a smile.
"As for you..." Silas turned to look at "Sea Serpent" Walter. "I have the Sequence 7 formula of the Lawyer pathway, 'Briber.'
You can also choose to convert it to 700 pounds in cash."
This formula was something he'd publicly sought to purchase at the Tarot Club, and The World Klein had sold it to him at a friendship price.
Originally 800 pounds, he'd gotten it for 500.
"Captain, I choose the Briber formula!" Walter said excitedly.
To Silas, this was a very ordinary formula, but for him, it was something he might only obtain after years of effort, and even then, he couldn't be certain of its authenticity.
With this formula, combined with his savings, he would have a chance at advancement...
So Silas raised his hand and passed Walter a slip of paper.
"As for you two," he said to helmsman "Sailor" Ruber and "Apothecary" Darkwill, "you didn't participate in direct combat, so your rewards will be somewhat lower.
Four hundred pounds in cash, to be collected later along with the bonuses distributed to everyone."
The two naturally had no objections.
After distributing the spoils, Silas let everyone leave. He remained in the captain's cabin, sorting through his gains from this battle.
This time in Bayam, he had single-handedly faced three Sequence 4 demigods, severely injuring one, causing another's mental collapse, and killing the third.
He'd seized a large amount of property from the Governor of the Rothsted Archipelago.
At the same time, as reward for the commission, the School of Life had enhanced his "Revolver of Luck" to a power level close to Sequence 4, approaching that threshold from Sequence 5.
But beyond all this, his most important gain came from the demigod he'd killed: Qonas Kilgor, the Deputy Director of MI9.
Silas closed his eyes slightly, sensing that soul imprisoned within his body.
Qonas had already become one of his lambs.
Because his soul had been completely corrupted by the "Shadow of Depravation," he was much easier to use than ordinary lambs.
Not only that.
"Thunk, thunk."
He reached into his coat and withdrew two oddly-shaped Beyonder items, placing them on the table.
One was a massive revolver with six barrels, the other a metal pocket watch with chaotic pointers: "Rever's Shout of Despair" and "Concerto of Light and Shadow," two items with powerful effects but equally severe negative effects.
"Heh heh..."
Looking at these two items and sensing the demigod lamb within his body, Silas felt considerable emotion.
He'd originally only planned to infiltrate the Governor's mansion, find Roy King and "Elaine," then leave.
But through a series of coincidences, battle had erupted, and in the end, he'd gained even more.
As the Deputy Director of MI9, he should know more inside information than peripheral Witches...
Thinking this, he slowly closed his eyes, attempting to simulate the feeling of tidal waves submerging his body.
In this way, he summoned the illusory tide and sent himself to that sea.
"Splash..."
The chaotic, deep black seawater gently rippled, making sounds.
Silas opened his eyes to see the vast sea surface, the fog shrouding the surroundings, that towering tower, and the red-haired, golden-eyed woman across from him.
"Welcome back."
Ma'am M, barefoot, smiled warmly at him. Her molten-gold eyes reflected Silas's shadow.
Seawater lapped at her feet and the hem of her long robe without wetting them.
"Mm."
Silas responded casually, then directly reached out and plunged his hand into his own chest, slowly withdrawing it.
In his palm, he gripped Qonas's translucent soul tightly.
He needed to interrogate this fellow and see how much he knew about the royal conspiracy!
Secrets concerning the royal family were protected by invisible contracts.
Those who tried to speak out were silenced before they could reveal anything.
That's why he'd thought of this method: bringing the spirit body directly to this sea, then questioning it.
Even true gods couldn't penetrate the barrier of this place, so the royal family's influence naturally couldn't take effect either!
"Great master..."
Qonas's soul had already been utterly corrupted, steeped in deep darkness.
Even so, Silas wasn't completely at ease. He let seawater flow into Qonas's body and activated his demigod-level Spectator pathway authority to hypnotize him.
"What exactly is Loen doing?" Silas asked bluntly once Qonas was fully under.
Qonas only shook his head, expression vacant.
"I don't know," he said honestly. "I'm only in charge of one part. I don't know the full plan His Majesty the King has."
Tsk, physical-level intelligence compartmentalization too. That dog emperor really knows how to play.
Silas cursed inwardly, then asked, "Then what exactly are you responsible for?"
Qonas's spirit body swelled slightly but quickly calmed under the sound of the tide and continued speaking.
"I'm mainly responsible for Ruin No. 1.
It's located deep underground in the Striver section of the Tussock River, with anti-divination and prophecy arrangements inside."
"My task is mainly to find ways to gather people and materials and send them into the ruins."
Ruin No. 1?
It sounds like there's more than one.
"What's in the depths of the ruins?" Silas continued questioning.
And Qonas shook his head once more.
"I don't have clearance to enter the ruins. Those with clearance include Prince Grove and Duchess Georgina."
"...What else do you know about the ruins?" Silas took a deep breath and asked.
"Those ruins once belonged to... the 'Blood Emperor' Alista Tudor," Qonas spoke hazily.
"Hm?"
In that instant, Silas sensed that Medici within his body seemed to have raised his head.